Smoke and Tobacco Free Campus

Winter Haven Hospital will join many Florida hospitals and over 500 in the country in having a Smoke and Tobacco Free campus beginning October 1, 2008.  This will apply to patients, employees, physicians, volunteers and visitors, as the hospital seeks to assure a healthy environment.

Lance Anastasio, President of Winter Haven Hospital explained, “our Mission statement begins; ‘To improve the health of the communities we serve.’ There is sufficient research regarding the harmful effects of smoking and inhaling second hand smoke.  Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States.  One in every five deaths are attributable to cigarette smoking. Over 450,000 deaths a year are attributable to smoking. These facts we cannot ignore and the Board of Trustees and Medical Staff members are in unanimous agreement that becoming a smoke and tobacco free campus is the appropriate thing to do.”

Bob Carter, Chairman of the Board of Trustees elaborates, “As a healthcare organization committed to the health and safety of our patients, we have a responsibility to provide a safe, clean, and healthy environment.”

Dr. Chandrasekhar, President of the Medical Staff adds, “Research confirms that over 200,000 deaths a year in our country are due to the cardiovascular effects of smoking. As a Cardiologist I se the local impact, I implore anyone who smokes to stop. The Medical Staff clearly supports the hospital’s new policy and values being with a hospital that promotes wellness.”

Dr. David Evans, cardiovascular surgeon also sees the impact of smoking and second hand smoke, “The U.S. Surgeon General has made us aware that second hand smoke is a contributing factor to respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer and coronary heart disease in nonsmokers. The new policy to have no smoking inside the hospital buildings or outside on hospital property eliminates the potential for second hand smoke.”

Employees will have small cards to respectfully remind colleagues, visitors and patients that the various campuses owned by Winter Haven Hospital are smoke free.

Employees have been offered several smoking cessation classes and discounts on things like nicotine patches to assist them should they choose to stop smoking.

We realize this will have an impact on many people and we will be compassionate, but firm.

Dr. Robert VanHook, Medical Director for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, points out that; “The hospital has an excellent Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department and the staff sees the ravaging effects of smoking and tobacco use daily.  Regrettably, that is the back end of a healthcare crisis. As an organization, committed to healthy living, we need to do everything possible to help people not to start smoking.  If they have started, we must help them stop.  We realize the hospital’s new policy will have an impact on many people and we as healthcare providers need to be compassionate, but firm.  We also understand that the vast majority of people who smoke want to quit and the hospital staff will strive to connect them with the help they need to succeed. If you have any questions or seek to quit smoking, please call 293-1121, extension 1277.